Saturday, January 18, 2014

Thursday, January 16, 2014

I love it that so many of my friends are artistic & creative!
Nan is no exception!
This week I received this hand lettered postcard from her!
Yes -- you read that right -- H A N D Lettered!

This is part of Nan's quest to create and mail out a postcard or two each month.
I feel ever so lucky to be a recipient this month!
I love it! I wish I could see all of the wonderful cards she ends up mailing.

security farm lights that may be the only light beyond the night stars

many animals that count on you for care - often waiting in a big red barn

Winter tests the best of us in all of these areas.
How cold is too cold it asks....well let's just see!

And, often to the rescue in the country are the unsung heroes -- our contractors. They have a relationship with each farm, as they are usually neighbors. They know us when we call. They are less concerned about generating money on a service call, then getting a farm up and working again.

Several years ago, a wind storm took down a giant of a Cottonwood tree adjacent to our driveway. One mighty branch slashed the electrical box right off our brick wall. When I called our Electrician, Dale, (after 5 p.m. I might add) he came immediately over, dropping everything. He worked until after dark. When we found that the electrical company would not attach the street power line until they passed their co-zillion pages of rules....Dale was on the phone with them, defending that farms need to have power (no well, no security light). When they still said that we would have to wait for at least three days....it was Dale that brought us a generator to provide a source of power. And -- when the Electrical folks finally showed up at 10:00 p.m. that night (two locals that worked for the power company and went against work orders to wait - stating "that's not how we do things in the country") -- Dale returned to work by their side until our power was restored in the wee hours. That is our Electrician.

When we first bought our home, we toiled on it until early spring, making the move prior to having a new well dug. When the local plumbing company we had been working with and had contracted with to dig a new well heard we were moving in, they moved us to the top of their list -- digging in the early spring through a rain storm. They were knee deep in mud, but shared with us, "you will have water before you move in". That is our plumber.

And, yesterday, in the frigid -50 below wind chill, when our furnace had difficulty staying on with the winds slamming the intake vent....a call to our Heating & Air Conditioning company was met with a "What's the problem Dave?" and a "Here's what you can do". They talked us through cutting the intake pipe with a hack saw and diverting it to taking in basement air. No bill, no service call....just help. Jeff ended with a "call me in the spring if you need help reattaching that pipe for outdoor air." That is our furnace guy.

Yes, there are many things that make country life interesting, none the least are these unsung heroes.

We began these sales in 2010, and have been absolutely amazed by the response. Each sale has gotten better & better, bigger & bigger. Many of you may still remember the one try at a November sale and the cold, cold, cold (but warm spirits) in the hayloft! This last Barn Sale in October, 2013 exceeded all expectations -- actually adding a new dilemma - how to thoughtfully "manage" the volume of shoppers on the first morning and eliminate long waits to check out for future sales! Such wonderful "problems" to have.

But, in all honesty, my health in 2013 and recovery in the years following put a wrench in it all. Dealing with breast cancer ~ surgeries and recovery ~ has meant that my energy has been near depleted. Working my full time day job, keeping up with our farm, loading my booth & case at the Hixton Schoolhouse Antique Mall is all I can manage. I needed to make the decision that right now I have needed to breathe in every day of every season. I know you understand.

And -- I do want to say how much I honor & adore every single one of you that supported our sale through notes on this blog or through your attendance. You have touched my heart!

Finally, my thanks with an exclamation mark to my Dave & Ian for being there! And to Jani, Nan & Sarah -- (and at the 2013 sale, Jani's husband, Norm) --- aka "The Barn Cats". If you attended the first morning of any Barn Sale -- these are the hard working folks that helped, checked you out...."woo hooed" their way through this philanthropic adventure called friendship...driving 6 hours round trip to be here. My love for these peeps of mine is deep!

So, you might ask -- will there be another Barn Sale?

I honestly am just not sure, but my blog is certainly where I will announce it if we do!

And, please "like" the Meadowview Farm Business Facebook Page for even more updates.

This is where I will post potential "pop-up sales" at the farm, vintage furniture for sale and other stuff that just might interest you. This is also a place you can be in touch with me.

Welcome to my little blog...I post a little something when the mood strikes...sometimes I open up a post for comments, but most of the time I don't. I know how complicated commenting on blogs can be, and want to keep this simple....I just thank you for visiting!

"I roamed the countryside searching for answers to things I did not understand." Leonardo da Vinci

Our Barn Sale is again featured in Flea Market Style, Spring 2013. We are blushing here!

A Bit About Me...

I have this little Steiff Rabbit with most of its mohair fur worn off. That is me...not perfect, a little worn, but plenty loved.
I am a gatherer, and I also pay attention to details. If you can describe something as "sweet" or "charming" -- I likely will need to adopt it. I believe in wonder, and I pray I will always feel hopeful at the end of the day. Sunshine on my shoulder will sometimes make me cry and barefeet will always make me smile.

Feel free to contact me...

We arrived at our farm in 2006: found it on a Saturday-- owned it on Tuesday. It took almost a year before we could move in....and now, we count our blessings every day.

We come home. At the end of our journey -- this embrace of a farm awaits us. We come home. We breathe. We come home.

Welcome to our farm, our lives --- this is who we are.

I wonder....
what would have happened if we hadn't traveled northwest that Saturday. If we hadn't stopped in awe at this vacant farm. If we hadn't fought to adopt her and soothe her hurts. What would have been lost or missed in our lives? I wonder.